General presentation

Trace elements are present in soils as a result of the weathering of the parent rocks that naturally contain them. Similarly, sediments contain varying concentrations of trace elements and nutrients. In addition, anthropogenic activities (e.g. industrial, agricultural, mining) contribute to the introduction of elements into soils through the spreading of waste (solids, sludge, manure, etc.), the application of fertilizers and phytosanitary products, atmospheric fallout and so on.

Depending on their natural and/or anthropogenic origin, trace elements are not found in the same form in soils and sediments, and their fate in the environment will therefore differ. It is thus generally accepted in the scientific community that the distribution, mobility, bioavailability and toxicity of chemical elements depend not only on their concentration in the environment, but also...